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[av_heading heading=’ JUST ANOTHER DAY ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY LUIS BUENAFLOR JR.
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WHEN Mary Joy Tabal crossed the finished line of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games marathon competition as gold medal winner it was not only a vindication for the spunky Cebuana long distance runner but a big “up yours” to Philippine Track and Field Association or PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico.
After all the controversy hounding Mary Joy and her relationship with PATAFA that would probably make good material for a telenovela, the country came out the winner as she gave the motherland the first gold medal in the 2017 edition of the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
That gold medal win opened the floodgates for more gold medals in the triathlon.
But what really is the story in this unfolding drama, here’s several excerpts that would give you an idea how this telenovela started from spin.ph:
“Kuala Lumpur – The story behind Mary Joy Tabal’s gold-medal performance in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games looked fit for a telenovela.
“After nearly failing to make it to Philippine line-up owing to a conflict between her handlers and the national athletics federation, Tabal defied all odds when she ruled the women’s marathon on Saturday morning in Putrajaya.
“‘I’ve been through a lot of things,’ Tabal said in an interview with Filipino reporters after crossing the finish line. “Lahat ng paghihirap sa training, sakripisyo na mawalay sa pamilya.’
“Perhaps the biggest battle she had to go through was the one she left unsaid during the interview.
“Tabal’s road to victory was anything but easy as a conflict between her camp and leaders of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) haunted her training since last year.
“The bone of contention was her refusal to train under the supervision of the federation’s coaches.
“The controversy reached boiling point when PATAFA, unwarranted or not, dropped Tabal from the national pool for “violating rules of the association” just months before the SEA Games
“The issue was later resolved, and Tabal was reinstated to the national team, but only after agreeing to PATAFA’s terms for reinstatement, including reporting directly to the association during her training.”
And here’s from Rappler.com:
“Amid the 29th Southeast Asian Games frenzy, there is another issue stealing the spotlight away from the biennial multi-sporting event scheduled on August 19-30 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“The controversy about Mary Joy Tabal, the first Filipino marathon runner to qualify for the Olympics, has been spreading since the 2015 SEA Games where she clinched a silver medal for the Philippines.
“Instead of the fire dying down, the issues are burning even more.
“In the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) press conference on Monday, June 5 at the Philippine Olympic Committee’s office, the association stated their statements regarding the controversy.
“‘This is issue has been going on for too long, it is now time to take stop,’ said PATAFA President Philip Juico. ‘We develop athletes who do the right thing and this is not just a matter of technical proficiency, values are involved here.’
“According to a an official statement released in the press conference, PATAFA stated the selection of final line-up of the Philippine Team for the SEA Games doesn’t rely on performance alone.
“PATAFA highlighted conditions it considered equally important for inclusion and retention on the national team, naming honour, fidelity to the national team, respect for authority, commitment to the federation and the absence of any abhorrent attitude of entitlement.
“PATAFA doesn’t believe Tabal has expressed the amount of respect and obedience the association requires from a national athlete.
“‘This person (Tabal) has used PATAFA like a revolving door. She competes and then leaves,’ Juico, who is also the current chairman of the Philippine Super Liga, said.
“When asked if Juico will still let Tabal compete in the upcoming SEAG, he bluntly said, ‘We don’t like you (Tabal), you don’t want to follow the rules but (if ever we meet) I will talk to you and I will be civil.’
“The 4-time division titlist in the National Milo Marathon Finals Tabal and her issues with the association sprouted due to participating in events like 2015 Los Angeles Marathon, which Tabal and marathon champion Rafael Poliquit competed in without permission from the PATAFA.
“Others included Tabal’s sponsorship with Milo, her request to remain in Cebu City to train whilst the majority of the athletes are in Manila, and issues with her personal coach.
“‘This has been going on for too long. Others might get affected and that is what I’m afraid of. We need to stop this,’ Juico said.”
Let me put it this way, PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico is not an athlete. From my research he has never been one although I could be wrong here as he might have played intramural games when he was a student or the games during PE classes.
Philip Ella Juico is a politician and a former member of the academe. What I’m trying to say here is that he does not feel nor will ever understand what it is to be an athlete.
The gold medal of Mary Joy Tabal made the country proud and people happy but I’m pretty sure her vindication which gave a big “middle finger” to Philip Ella Juico made more people happy. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
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